Expansion joint material



Patented June 7, 1932 s'rrs ALBERT C. FISCHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PHILIP CAREY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO EXPANSION JOINT MATERIAL No Drawing.

According to the present practice there are two recognized methods of installing expansion joints in concrete construction as a means of compensating for expansion and contraction of the concrete. One method is to install a preformed strip of material at intervals in the concrete so that it becomes a fixed part, so to speak, of the structure. Another method, while. not so extensively used, is to leave a space at intervals in the concrete as it is laid, with the space afterwards filled in with a so-called poured joint. In practicing this particular method a board or other temporary joint forming means is set up and the concrete formed around the same. After the concrete has set the board, or other means as the case may be, is removed so as to leave a space to be finally poured full of the expansion joint material.

My present invention relates particularly to the last mentioned method of installing the joint, and has for its primary object to provide a material for this purpose, which is preferably sold in drums or other closed containers as a ready mixed material, or in other words a ready to use material, which not only does not require other materials to be mixed therewith before it can be used but it need not be heated or melted before using.

As heretofore practiced, a so-called poured joint has usually been the result of using different grades of asphalts, the same being melted and poured hot. This is more. or less inconvenient since it requires special heating apparatus on the job, accompanied by waste of material.

Where mixtures of asphalt and other materials are made on the job skilled labor is usually required to make up the pro-per mixtures and see that the material is poured at the proper consistency, as Well as to see that other details in the directions for installation are properly carried out. According to my invention all of these disadvantages are eliminated, as all that is necessary to install my material is to break open the container and pour the same into the space for the joint until the space is filled. In other words, the material contemplated by my invention is ready to be used and may even be poured from Application filed August 30, 1926. Serial No. 132,547.

granulated corn cob, sawdust, or any otherlike materials having the same physical characteristics may be incorporated.

Bituminous material makes up the bulk of the emulsion and I might state here that the results obtained depend a great deal upon the selection of the right kind of bituminous material. Some grades of asphalt have the inherent qualities necessary to perform as an expansion joint even when mixed with the other materials stated, and for this reason experience has taught me that blown asphalt of a melting point of at least 160 F. is the best material to use as a base for this'product.

In selecting an asphalt of these characteristics I would seldom have to use a flux. On the other hand, if it became necessary to use anything but a blown asphalt I could develop an acceptable material by using a lower melting pointasphalt if combined with any of the several kinds of asphalt fluxes. A good formula would be to use about two per cent of the emulsifying agent, about fifteeen per cent, at least never over twenty-five per cent, of a finely divided filling material, such as, cork granules, granulated corn cob, sawdust or the like, or a mixture of any or all of these materials, and a sufficient amount of water to develop an emulsion of the desired liquid consistency.

The water which makes up the emulsion would not be added in such quantities as to make the material so thin as to float the finely divided material after the mixture has been poured in the container, and for this reason it might be desirable in most cases to put the material in containers in a more or less thick consistency, so that during the time between being mixed and opened for use there would be no possibility of the finely divided material being separated and floated to the top of the containers.

The desired amount of water might be added to thin out the mixture just prior to pouring into the joint as occasion demands. In most instances, however, the mixture would be so completely emulsified as to enable me to pack the same in a container without danger of the finely divided material separating, and for this reason it would hardly be necessary to thin it out with water just prior to use.

The finely divided filling material for the most part would be of a fibrous nature so as to cooperate with the asphalt to develop compressibility, so that the joint may properly respond to and compensate for expansion of the concrete and also re-expand to compensate for contraction of the concrete, so that the joint will be filled at all times regardless of the space left by contraction of the concrete. Then again the finely divided filling material will act as a fiow retarder and avoid undue oozing of the material of the oint due to the pressure applied to the sides thereof upon expansion of the joint.

The'reason I have referred particularly to finely divided material is not that it has to be finely divided in order to function after the material is poured for the joint, but unless it was divided into more or less small particles or granules it would retard the flow of the mixture to such an extent that it could not be poured, and since I would much prefer to use as large particles of this filling material as practical I would not subdivide the same any smaller than necessary in preparing the material for the mixture.

After the joint has been poured the volatile constituents of the material will evaporate, and will leave a plastic mass of bituminous material having finely divided material incorporated therein, which will serve as a practical expansion oint.

I claim:

1. A ready to pour expansion joint material comprising a homogeneous mixture of finely divided granules and bituminous material having incorporated therewith an emulsifying agent comprising a soap formed of resin oil and an alkali.

2. A ready to pour expansion joint material comprising a mixture of bituminous material and an emulsifying agent, compris ing a soap formed of resin oil and an alkali, said mixture having finely divided fibrous granules incorporated therewith.

3. A ready to pour expansion joint material comprising a mixture of bituminous material and an emulsifying agent, comprising a soap formed of resin oil and an alkali, said mixture having finely divided vegetable fibrous granules incorporated therewith.

4. A ready to pour expansion joint material comprising a mixture of blown asphalt and an emulsifying agent, comprising a soap formed of resin oil and an alkali, said mixture having finely divided fibrous granules incorporated therewith.

5. A ready to pour expansion joint material comprising a preponderance of a mixture of blown asphalt and an emulsifying agent, comprising soap formed of resin oil and an alkali, said mixture having finely divided fibrous granules incorporated therewith.

6. A compressible and elastic packing material in permanently pourable fiowable condition, comprising a preponderance of bituminous emulsion having homogeneously mixed therein finely divided compressible filler and flow retarder.

7. A permanently ready to form compressible and elastic packing material comprising a preponderance of an emulsion of blown asphalt having homogeneously mixed therein finely divided compressible fibrous material forming a fiow retarder and filler.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 28th day of August, 1926.

- ALBERT O. FISCHER. 

